State Association Awards Honor Parent of the Year – Hillsborough County Head Start

TALLAHASSEE, FL – September 18, 2018 – the Florida Head Start Association (FHSA), representing Florida’s Head Start Programs has selected Ikeshia Highsmith as Parent of the Year at the Hillsborough County Head Start program.

Ms. Highsmith has served three terms on the Mango Head Start Center Policy Council Board in the capacity of Head Start Center’s President, Secretary and Policy Council Representative and has contributed more than 133 volunteer hours.She has worked to advocate for Head Start Programs through education and serving as a role model to other parents by participating in the National Head Start Association’s First Advocates Pilot Project which is a series of in-depth leadership and educational trainings enabling her too not only be a voice for children in Hillsborough County but take an active part in state-level advocacy efforts for quality early childhood education.

Ms. Highsmith holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida A & M University and a master’s degree from Florida State University. She has taken experiences from her life and has been able to establish a business advocating for people with disabilities. This stems from the obstacles she ultimately overcame through the adoption of her nephew with disabilities.

The 2019 awards were selected by a panel and recipients will be honored during FHSA annual awards luncheon in West Palm Beach attended by Head Start/Early Head Start Directors, Staff, Parents and early childhood education leaders.

The Florida Head Start Association is a nonprofit organization working on behalf of the 41,000 children and families Head Start Programs serve in Florida. FHSA has been the voice for Florida's most vulnerable children and families since 1999 and is committed to enhancing and supporting the capability of local Head Start program in the delivery of high quality services for our children and families.